Fire-alarm system



Aug. 21, 1923. 1,465,496 N. H. SUREN FIRE ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 11. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 o v 19 I I -/06 Waihanfi Saran,

Aug. 21, 1923. 1,465,496

N. H. SUREN FIRE .ALARM SYSTEM Filed July 11, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jivemiov:

Na mii Su sm,

Patented Aug. 21, 1923.

em" stares- NATHAN snn-nnror' nnnnnaivi, MAssAoHUsn'r'rs;essieno'n T0 THE" ehivrnwnm. V

\ FIRE ALARMTELEGEAEH COIVIPANY, NEWTON UPPER FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS,

A CORPORATION ornnw YORK. I

' man-ALARM sys'rnM. 7

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHAN H. SUREN, a. citizen of the United States, and a resident of Needham, in thecounty of Norfolk and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, haveinvented an Improvement in F ire-Alarm Systems, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, i -a specification, like characters. on the drawings representing like parts. This invention relates to fire alarm systerns and more partlcularly to auxiliary fire alarm systems whereby signalling mecha-' nism in the main circuit is adapted to be actuated from one or more stations on an following description when taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. I

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows more or less diagrammati cally the front elevation of a usual type of street fire alarm'box to which is applied one specific form of box pulling attachment which may be used in carrying out the invention; d

Fig. 2' is a sectional elevation on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrow there; shown, the main drum being also shown iii-section.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 inFig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow, or from the opposite side from Fig. *1, and showing the escapement' and ratchet. V i

Fig. dis a sectional plan view taken on the line H in Fig. -1 and showing there-- leasing magnet and its armature.

Fig. 5 is a diagram showing the circuit.

times (Fig. 5) 22, 23, 24, etc.,.arranged at intervals'and, each providedwith a signalling device, herein typified by the.umnuallyv arrangement of an auxiliarycircuit and its relation t he m n. line an he mai li ippnam' filed my 11, 1919." Serial no. 310,159.

windings in different positions of the cir- Figs. :6, c and '8 are diagrams showing the JOI1I16CtlOIlS "&IlCl direction 'ofjcurrent flow 1n the auxiliary circuit and-themagnet' cuit changing devices at one of the auxiliary si 'nalling stations.

eferring to the drawingsfand particurlarly to Figs. 1 and 5, I have shown, con ventionally and forillustrative purposes, a

main fire alarm circuit 10,- passing through the central tation 11 and including thereat a battery or other source ofcurrent l2.

Included in the main line circuit there;

are also provided one or more signalling stations at whlch there'are located suitable signalling boxes or mechanisms, including each a signalling train, one of such stations being indicated at 13 (Fig. 5) and others at 14 and 15, and each one being adapted,

when actuated, to transmit to the centralstation 1ts individual characteristic signal.

The signalling box at the station- 13 (Fig.

1) has the casing 17 within which thereis contained any of the usual or suitable signalling mechanlsm. The specific construction of this apparatus is immaterial, but, as v typifying a usual mechanism of this kind, I have herein' indicated conventionally and diagrammatically the working parts of a common form of signalling. train which is adapted to be-released-andset into operation to transmit it signalbythe depression 7 of the starting lever 18. The latter may be operated by any of the usual ,manual pull devices. The pull leven may 'be de f pressed and the train released by the bell crank triprlever 19. The lower end of the latter bears against the upper edgeof the lever-18, while its upper arm is jointed to the box tripping link 20,;which latter is at. each mainline box, i under the control of an auxiliary line extending fromthe-main line box over any desired territory and hav ing one o r more emergency signalling"staoperated pull switch 25, by means of which, as will be described, the main line box may be actuated and the characteristic signal of that box transmitted to the central station.

In the illustrative embodiment of the -invention,.the auxiliary line .is normally closed and energized by the, current oflowgtherein, such current being preferably derived from the main line circuit. In the preferred form of the invention, the auxiliary linepcircuit is in series with the main line circuit.

In the illustrative embodiment of zt-helinvention also the controlling devices are preferably so constructed :that the -box starting magnet isnot afiected eith'erby the passage of the auxiliary line current which persists while the system is in its normal condition, or by "interruption of such current Which might follow an accid'ental break in the auxiliary circuit, "so that the main line bo'x signalw ill not be transmitted to the "central station through any interruption of the current *in the auxiliary line, and the -'only way in which such signal can be transmitted is through the movement of the switch 25 at the auxiliary signal-ling station, -'as hereinafter described.

While this result may be secured through various "other specific arrangements, in the illustrated arrangement the magnet 21 is provided with "similar and substantially equal difi'ere-ntial windings '30 :and 31. ln

1 one position of the switch 25, these windings are arranged in opposition to each other-thereby one largely or wholly neutralizing the magnetizingetlectof the other and rendering the magnet ineffective for starting the box-while in another position ofthe switch 25 the windings are arranged to reinforce one the other, thereby adding the magnetizing effect of one to that of the "other and becoming e flective -to energize the magnet and start the box.

To this end the auxiliary line comprises a plurality of loops in series with the main line circuit and with each other, said loops being also in series with the magnet wind- Referring now to the electrical connec-' tionsK-Fig. 5), the main line circuit is con nected to the terminals 32 and 33 at the main line box, the circuit leading fromothe terminal '32 "through the conductor 34, the non in'terferin'g magnet 35 "and the 11101- mally closed signalling contacts 36 to one ling box"22. r The wire 43 at the station 22 is connected to 'the termi-nali44 and, when the switch I of the windings '30 of the differentially line circuit includes thesconductors 40,41,

42 and 43, connected respectively to the -box terminals 33, 317i, 38andi39rand leading therefrom to the nearest; auxiliary signalis in its normal position, this in turn is connected to the terminal 45-and thereby to the conductor 43 which extends to "the next adjacent signalling station '23, whereat there is avsimilararrangelnent of cm nections, the conductor 43 being connect ed to the conductor=43 leading to the next signalling station 24. A similar arrangement is provided at each of the succeeding signalling stations-until, beyond the last, (herein station '24) the conductor'43 :iscon- I necteddirectly to the conductor -40 which extends back through stations 23 -and22 to "the terminal 133 at the main line box. In the normalposi't'ions of the several circuit changing devices 25, therefore, thezconductor 40 combined with the =-conductors 43,

. 43 ,'etc., constitute'a "loop between the main line box terminals "33 and 39 and passing through the successive stations. 7

By a series of connections similar to connections 43 -'43 etc. the conductors 41 and 42 are connected normally in a loop auxiliary signalling circuit which passes through'the successive signalling-stations, the 'conductors 41 and 42 being connected respectively at "the station 22 to the conductors 4F and 42 and the latter at the station '23 respectively to the conductors 41 and "42 and the latter at the station '24 to the conductors 41 :and 7 7 42, which latter;'are permanently ed together beyond the station '24.

In Fig; 6 thereis represented the current flow through the several conductors, when normally connected by the switches as shown in Fig. 5. It willbe seen that the connect- I current entering from'the central station at i ductors 43, 43", etc, to the main box t erminal 39, thence through the magnet Wind ings 31 to the terminal 38, and thence'again through each successive signalling station through conductors 42, i42 etc, and back again through "the successive conductors 41",

41, 'etc., to *the terminal 37. Thence it passes through the second differential "winding '30 and through the signalling contacts 36, the magnet 35 and conductor 34 to the bOX terminal 82. Under these conditions the directionaof current flow through the two windings is opposed as indicated in Fig. 6, leaving the magnet de-energized and ineffective.-

lVhen itis desired to send asignal from one of the auxiliary stations, as for example i thatthis position of the switch connectsqthe he.

conductor 43 to the conductor .41. terminal 49 is connected to'the conductor 40 through the conductor 52, so' that in this position of the switch the -con ductor 42 is connected directly to the conductor 40. This establishes a circuit relation which is diagrammatically shown in Fig. v8, the auxiliary line circuit being then broken beyond the station 22, or beyond the station from which the signal is sent, and consists of two loops comprising the circuits 40 and 42 onthe one hand, and 41 and 43 on the other. This reverses the direction of the current flow through the intermediate winding 31, the current now being through the .conductor 40 back through the conductor 42 and through the winding 31' in reverse direction from what it was before, thence through the conductor 43 back to station '22 and thence back to the main line box through the conductor 41 and through winding 30 in the same direction as before. The cumula-- tive effect of the two windings secured by magnet and starts the box.

of the switch at either the station 23 or 24,

or any succeeding station which may be em ployed, effects a cross-connection between the two loops of the circuit similar to that al ready described, reversing the current and pulling the box. v V

In order that a'break in the auxiliary circuit may not incapacitate the signalling'stations located between the break and the main line signal box from functioning until such time as the break is repaired, I have provided means whereby the loop circuits on the auxiliary line which include the break that they remain intact up to and'i ncluding the signalling station next preceding the point where the break. has occurred. While,

such short-circuiting apparatus might be embodied in a separate switch, herein the switches 25 are so constructed that they may be pulled from eitherthe normal starting.

position shownjin Fig. her from asecond starting position in which all succeeding stations are cut out of circuit. Such a circuit relation is shown diagrammatically in- Fig.

7 where it may be assumed that a break has occurred between station 22 and station 23, and the pull switch 25 at station 22 has been set to bepulled .from itssecondary starting position. In the normal. position of the switch 25, the latter is retractedby a spring 54against a stop pin-:55, the switch being pulled from suchstarting position to. thej dotted line position as hereinbefore described. If a break occurs between stations 22 and '23, the switch 25 at station 22 is re- 56, ,57 and 58 being retracted-against a stop pin59 which is temporarily employed to limit the retractile movement of the switch when released. The contact 56 is connected to thecontact'49 bythe conductor 60 and the contact 57 with the contact 58 by theconduc set to start from the intermediate contacts 7 tor 61,:so that, when the switch is set at the secondary starting position, the loop'circu'its 40 and 43-on the one hand and 41 and'42 on the other are maintained through the station 22 as before, the succeeding stations beyond 7 thebreak being cut out. Obviously, if the break occurs beyond any of the succeeding stations, the circuit beyond such station may be cut out in a similar way and the integrity stations, may be maintained as before.

Referring now to the devices which are ac tuated by the starting magnet (Figs. 1 and} .5), the latter and its associated parts are mounted upon a segmental frame or casing 7 O, secured to the side of the casing 17 and presenting sup-porting frame members 71 and 72 in which a main shaft 73 (see Fig. 2) is journaled.

A motive device for starting the box is provided in the form of the main drum 74, loosely mounted on the shaft but connected thereto by means of a fiat coil spring 7 5, one

end of which is secured to the interior ofthe shaft, thereby winding up or tensioning the spring 75. The-shaft 73 has fixedly se-. cured to its endi-a hub 78 carrying the ratchet. 79, engaged by the spring pressed pawl 80, v

pivoted to the frame member7 2, so that the shaftis prevented from turning in a countermay be reestablished or short-circuited so clcckwise, direction, as viewed in Fig. 3,and compelling'the drum, when released, to turn ina clockwise direction as viewedin Fig. 3

or a counter-clockwise direction as'viewed in of the loop circuits through all the preceding I as under the impelling .force ofthe spring .75,

against turning movement, by suitable Teleasing. mechanism which is set into operation by the energization rot the starting magnet 21. -Referring to Figs. 2 :and 3, the "drum i-s provided :a t- 'on'e circumferenti'al edge with the :gear 284;, adapted to .mesh

with the pinion 85, :connected to the pallet wheel 86 on the pallet "wheel shaft 87 ,.'the pallet wheel h ving engaiged therewith the J pallet 88, 01 lsuch eonstruction that the drum fill its rotation is given a retarded or time-controlled movement. The pall'et'wheel and drum are normally held against movement by -a stop pin 89, having a flattened side carried 'by the releasing or :trip lever 90, the latter pivoted at 91 upon the frame member 72. The stop :pin 89 on the lever n'ormally'enga es 'a similarf'but opposlt-ely iaced pi-n 92 on thepa'l'let wheel '86, lholding I 98 and "carries the stop pin 89 out of the lever at its pivot.

path of the pallet wheel pin 92. llhe pa'llet wheel thereupon starts to revolve, re leasing also the drum '74 which is geared thereto. This permits the pallet wheel to make one full revolution before being brought to 'rest by the stop pin 89, 011- the releasing lever, which latter moves back to the stop positionshown in Fig. 3 on the deenergization of themagnet 21. The drum is geared to the pallet wheel by reduced gearing so that during the rotation of the pallet av'heel the drum makes =substantially one quarter of a revolution.

lo release the trip lever, the lower end of-th'e latter is adapted to be engaged by the laterally projecting pin 95, carried by ons end of the armature lever 96 on the upper end of the armature shatt 97 and adapted to "oscillate therewith when moved by the armature 98, connected to the lower end of the armature shaft (Figs. 1 and 4).

When the starting magnet is energized, the armature is attracted toward the magnet poles 99, against the tension =0'f the reend of the' releasing "lever 90, forcing the stop pin 89 out of the path of the pin 92 on the pallet wheel. 7 I

As soon as the drum 74, starts to "turn, it acts to depress the box-starting lever '18 and start the box. To this end, -the link 20 is jointed to an actuating lever 105, pivoted at 106 on the frame piece and normally held in inactive position by the coiled torsion spring 107, secured to the The upper end of "the messes or Jcam roll 10.8, wihcli engages the edge 109 Of internal cam 110, secured to the lever il 05 carries laterally extending pin adjacent side's-i the drum 74. The cam has 7 four similar successive edge formations which. act upon the cam rolllOS, when the drum .is turned clockwise (in Flg. 1) for-a quarter of a revolution, to move the cam.

roll radially inward-and swing the lever 105 counter-clockw1se,-(as seen in Fig.1),

this serving to depress the starting lever 18 1 and start the box.

When the pallet wheel has-completed its revolution 'andis again brought to rest, the drum 7% has turned one quarter of a revolution permitting the cam roll to be.

moved back by the torsion spring .107 into the shouldered recess of the next adjoining formation of the :Eace cam, and leaving theactuating lever and other parts in the hon mal position corresponding to that shown in Fig. .l.

The mainline box is then ready to be again started by a signal received from the same auxiliary line box, 'orfrom any otherf box on the auxiliary :line; If desired, the

times without the necessity of re-winding, thus permitting the box to be pulled:

under the control of the auxiliary circuit a plurality of times without resetting.

The signalling switches 25 at the auxil iary station are merely conventional .repre sentations of any well-known devices which preferably provide as soon as actuated for a certain "movement of a circuit changing member, which member is automatically self-restoring and moves with certainty to its initial starting position after a short but appreciable interval.

:t will be seen that this box starting attaehment'niay be applied to the ordinary existing fire alarm boxes without affecting or interfering with their manually operative capacities.

dueito the differentially wound magnet, both windings of which are in series wit-lithe main line, only the intended circuit change at the auxiliary station can serve to start the main line 'bOX. in the auxiliary'circuit serves merely to deenergize the magnet and stop the mainline current 'fiow..-

lVhile I have herein shown .and described for purposes of illustration one specific embodiment of the invention, and have illustrated the samein connection wi h a1normally closed auxiliary circuit, employing the main line current, and inisenes'to a box Any accidental break In the specific arrangement hereln illustrated, it will also be seen that starting magnet, the invention as to many v ofzits features is notlimited to that particular a lication. but is ca able of a crest,

tachment, an auxiliary line with one or more signalling stations having circuit changing devices for controlling the box starting attachment through said magnet, said auxiliary line normally having a' current therein and comprising a plurality of loops in series with the main line and each other and in series with said differential magnetwindings and normally connected at said auxiliary signalling tations to place said windings in opposition thereby rendering said magnet ineffective to start said box, either in the normal position of said circuit changing devices or in the event of a break in said auxiliary circuit, said circuit changing devices, however, being effective when moved to one position at any auxiliary station to so connect said loops as to change the direction of current through one ofsaid differential windings, adding the magnetizing effect of one to the other, thereby actuating said box starting attachment and transmitting the box. signal to said central station. 4

Q. In a fire alarm system having a central station and one or more main line signalling boxes, an auxiliary line in series with the main line and having one or'more signalling stations with circuit changing devices thereat for controlling the main line signalling box, controlling mean at the main line box including a differentially wound starting magnet having its differential windings connected to respond to the action of said circuit changing devices in. the auxiliary line, but having connections to said auxiliary line rendering its magnet unresponsive to the interruption of current flow in said line, and mean controlled by such responsiveness of said magnet to cause transmission of the main line box signal to the central station. 7

3. A fire alarm system having a main line box starting attachment including a difieren -.tially wound magnet, an auxiliary controlling line including circuits controlling the current flow through sa d difierential Wllld: ings and normally rendering said windings ineffective to start the box whether the aux iliary line is intact or broken and circuit changing devices on said auxiliary line adapted to cause the current in said windings to flow in the same direction or in opposite directions.

4. In a fire alarm system a main line having a central station, one or more main line signalling boxes, an auxiliary line normally having a current therein-anden ergized from the main line current source, one or more signalling stations having circuit changing devices i'or controlling a main line signalj ling box and controlling mean responsive to the actuation of circuit changing devices at an auxiliary station to cause transmission of the main line boxsignal to the central station, but ineffective to cause transmission of such signal on'interruption of current flow in such auxiliary line, said auxiliary station or stations being provided withmeans to cut out succeeding stations on the auxiliary line in the event of a break in said line beyond said station.

5. Ina fire alarm system, a main line starting box having auxiliary starting mechanism, including a starting ,-1nagnet with normally opposed differential windings, an auxiliary line circuit in serie with the main line 'and said differential. windings and a circuit changing device in said auxiliary circuit adapted to cause said wind ings-to reinforce one the otherin their magnetizing efiect and start the box. 1

6. A box starting attachment for a manually operable main line starting box, comprising trip mechan sm and adiiferentially wound magnet having its windings normally opposed one to theother, an auxiliary line having a plurality of circuits series with I the main line and with thevwindings of the magnet, and one orrm'ore circuit changing devices in said auxiliary circuit adapted to change the circuit and cause said windings" one to reinforce the. other.

7. An auxiliary box starting attachment for a. ma-inline, fire-alarm box controlled through an auxiliary line, the auxiliary line being adapted to be energized 'from main line current energy characterized by the employment of tripping mechanism, a differentially wound magnet controlling the same,

connections for the auxiliary line whereby 'thewindings 'oztthe magnet may be connected either in opposing 'or assisting r'elation-- ship but inefiective to start the box whether current is passing therethrough or whether.

the auxiliary line is broken, and acircuit changing device on the'auxiliary line movable to place the magnet windings inassisting relationship.

8. An auxiliary box starting attachment for a manually operable mainline fire alarm box, having an auxiliary startin for a main line fire alarmbox having trip magnet-- \Vltll d fferential windings normally inop- 'POSItlOD, and an auxiliary line comprising V mechanism and a: stanting; magnet with differential windin e, an auxiliary line coniprising a plurality 0i"- circuits in series with both set of windings, and circuit changing devices; for so governing the current paths i n said circuits as to place said windings in either assisting or opposing relationship.

10. Ana auxiliany'startingf attachment for at main linefire alarm box having tlip mechanism and a starting magnet with difierential windings an auxiliary line, said: differentizili windings being in: series with-the; mainline, with the auxiliary line and with. each other, and signalling mean for nevensz'eng the. relativedirection of current flow in one 15 oi the windings. k

vI 11: testimony whereof, I have signed my name to; this; specification.

NATHANIL sunn t. 

